NCTE Commends LGBT Military Magazine for Addressing Open Transgender Service

In their groundbreaking January edition, OutServe Magazine profiles six current transgender service members and veterans, some sharing their stories in public for the first time. The article, entitled “The New DADT: Transgender Service,” highlights the daily challenges transgender people face serving in silence, and the urgently needed policy changes necessary for ending this ban.

OutServe Magazine January 2012 Cover

Despite the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” open transgender military service remains banned due to outdated military medical regulations. Mara Keisling spoke with the author of the article, Katherine Miller, about how to change these regulations. Keisling noted the significant progress federal agencies like the Department of Veterans Affairs have made that could be foundational for the Armed Forces to begin making these changes.

Commenting on the article, Keisling added, “Stories of transgender service members are crucial to getting the military to end this ban. NCTE commends OutServe for telling these important stories, and I am hopeful that this will start the conversations that will lead to social and cultural changes making it safe for anyone who wants to serve our country do so proudly.”

The article, which will go live on Tuesday, January 31, 2012, can be viewed in its entirety at www.outservemag.com.

While the ban on open transgender service exists, NCTE urges current transgender service members to read our guidance issued with the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) to understand the consequences of coming out.